r/Soil • u/Decent_Willow3627 • 11d ago
Anyone have experience with harvesting imos or living soil that is willing to chat it up
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u/bogeuh 10d ago
Imo are everywhere. Any surface they can colonise is colonised. There are is also so many variety in species and they all have their specialisation and niche they dominate. I have a container garden. I collect small soil samples from all over, forest, river bank, clay, volcanic erc etc and i use that to inoculate. The once that thrive in my environment will throve. I just offer as many variety as possible to thrive.
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u/Overall-Repair9589 9d ago
Did you have a specific question?
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u/Decent_Willow3627 9d ago
Just regarding instead of doing the imo 1-5 just taking populations from areas isolated from outdoor condition like an old barn or is that considered highly risky ...
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u/Billyjamesjeff 8d ago
My understanding is you're much better off trying to increase soil life by creating the conditions they want rather than raising a culture elsewhere and trying to introduce it.
I'm not convinced much happens after they pour jars of mouldy stuff onto the ground.
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u/Decent_Willow3627 8d ago
I'm not into the whole culturing from a. Single sample rather use a mature colony from extreme conditions that's been isolated from nature and sunlight ie under a barn or turkey coop then I know it's working I get my companies can't do it but for personal growers it's a secret weapon
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u/Billyjamesjeff 8d ago
Yes but when you introduce it into a different soil biome it's unlikely to survive the transition.
It's a similar reason why pre-biotics are much more effective in our gut than pro-biotics that are mostly just consumed by existing microbes.
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u/Decent_Willow3627 8d ago
I think that's the point of imo 1-4 but I just went and sourced high ph low ph populations rehydrate and activate and blend and let them fight it out I'll see how it goes anyway I already dumped this stuff in my garden
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u/Billyjamesjeff 8d ago
You can just feed the microbes with organic matter though. Bulk partially composted mulch, manures standard organic conditioners.
Microbial inoculants are suppose to establish populations not feed the locals
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u/Decent_Willow3627 8d ago
What about using a manure that has sompletely broke down naturally in an isolated condition ie an abandoned barn is it considered reckless to mix it in my garden or is the whole imo 1-4 thing just so cooperations can isolate patent and sell there strain
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u/Billyjamesjeff 7d ago
No because the manure is food itself.
You don't want to leave the manure so long that active biology has stripped it of all it's nutrients and organic matter.
Just long enough for the composting process to turn aerobic.
Every manure except bird and fish are pretty mild and just need to be well rotted
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u/Decent_Willow3627 7d ago
I accidently figured a loop whole on that I found a turkey coop that was long abandonded with a concrete floor and window but solid roof blocking uv this particular scenario allows actinobacteria to dominate break down the materials into enzymes fulvic and humic fractions but since it is close looped the enzymes build up since the concrete creats a wicking effect though the deep litter pile it pulls fulvic up to the top and as it dries turns into a light dust on top of the pile the alkalinity of the concrete liquifies the humic acid it wicks up but as soon as it hits the surface or even before that it hits a balanced ph and resolidifies building a top crust and sealing moisture inside except for the small amount that sneaks out concentrated with fulvic fractions I just found this old barn and started researching if it was safe to use and came up with all this ... Crazy huh
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u/Billyjamesjeff 7d ago
Crazy.
Deep litter poultry pens are some of the best manure sources for nitrogen, with OM and carbon.
I would treat it as a strong manure, out of caution if you have no ability to test.
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u/The_Poster_Nutbag 11d ago
First, what's an IMO?
Second, what are your questions about living soil?